Talking Books Talk

Learn what the Kansas Talking Books staff have been reading. Maybe you'll find your next great read!

Michael Lang, Director

DB 123382 Burn by Peter Heller 
"Every year Jess and Storey have made an annual pilgrimage to northern Maine where they camp, hunt, and hike, leaving much from their long friendship unspoken. Although the state has convulsed all summer with secession mania--a mania that had simultaneously spread across other states--Jess and Storey figure it's a fight reserved for legislators or, worse-case scenario, folks in the capitol. But after two weeks hunting moose off the grid, the men reach a small town and are shocked to find a bridge blown apart, buildings burned to the ground, and bombed-out cars abandoned on the road. Trying to make sense of the sudden destruction all around them, the men set their sights on finding their way home, dragging a wagon across bumpy dirt roads, ransacking boats left in the lakes, and dodging men who are armed--secessionists or military, they cannot tell--as they seek a path to safety. And then, a startling discovery, a child in the cabin of a boat, drastically alters their path and the stakes of their escape"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 116768 The dead take the A train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey 
"Julie is a coked-up, burnt-out thirty-year-old whose only retirement plan is dying early. She's been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she'll work the most gruesome gigs, exorcize the nastiest demons, and make deals with the cruelest gods to claw her way to the top. But nothing can prepare her for the toughest job yet: when her best friend, Sarah, shows up at her door in need of help. Keeping Sarah safe becomes top priority. Julie is desperate for a quick fix to break the dead-end grind and save her friend. But her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts Sarah - and the entire world - directly in the path of annihilation." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Nataly Renfro, Machine Clerk

DB 109150 Trouble with the cursed by Kim Harrison 
"Rachel Morgan, witch-born demon, has one unspoken rule: take chances, but pay for them yourself. With it, she has turned enemies into allies, found her place with her demon kin, and stepped up as the subrosa of Cincinnati--responsible for keeping the paranormal community at peace and in line. Life is... good? Even better, her best friend, Ivy Tamwood, is returning home. Nothing's simple, though, and Ivy's not coming alone. The vampires' ruling council insists she escort one of the long undead, hell-bent on proving that Rachel killed Cincy's master vampire to take over the city. Which, of course, Rachel totally did not do. She only transformed her a little. With Rachel's friends distracted by their own lives and problems, she reaches out to a new ally for help--the demon Hodin. But this trickster has his own agenda. In the end, the only way for Rachel to save herself and the city may be to forge a new understanding with her estranged demon teacher, Al. There's just one problem: Al would sell his own soul to be rid of her...." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2022.

DB 117824 Demons of good and evil by Kim Harrison 
"Rachel Morgan, witch-born demon, suspected that protecting the paranormal citizens of Cincinnati as the demon subrosa would be trouble. But it's rapidly becoming way more trouble than even she could have imagined. While Rachel and her friends may have vanquished the trickster demon Hodin, his mysterious associate known only as "The Mage" is eager to finish what Hodin started, beginning with taking down Rachel's power structure piece by piece. With her world falling apart, Rachel desperately needs help. But with all of her supporters under attack, her only hope is to make a deal with the unlikeliest of allies." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Troy Arndt, Circulation Clerk

DB 105260 The last house on Needless Street by Catriona Ward 
In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods, an unspeakable secret binds a strange family together. But when a new neighbor moves in next door, something buried among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

Maggie Witte, Outreach Librarian

DB 117114 The Medici manuscript by C. J. Archer 
"Finding an old manuscript in the attic has always been a fantasy of Sylvia's. She just never expected the fantasy to come true, or for it to lead her to answers about her mysterious family. The silver clasps binding the pages contain rare magic - the same magic that might run through Sylvia's veins. To discover a link to her ancestors means understanding the book itself, but it's written in a code that proves difficult to crack. The only thing she knows for certain is that it was once owned by the Medicis, the powerful family that controlled Renaissance Florence. With the help of Gabe and his friends, Sylvia investigates the book's origins. But following the clues throws up more questions - questions they need help answering. Trusting others is not Sylvia's strong suit, but with Gabe at her side, she becomes capable and confident. Until their trust is shattered when the book is stolen. Uncovering the thief proves dangerous, particularly when someone is also trying to kidnap Gabe. With his own mysteries to unravel, Gabe's private life becomes more complicated. Sylvia tries to keep her distance but staying away from someone as magnetic as Gabe is impossible. With so many distractions, can they find the thief before the book is lost forever? Or will the secrets contained within its pages remain unsolved and will Sylvia's past continue to be a mystery?" -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 117116 The untitled books by C. J. Archer 
"When a set of bound manuscripts written on magician-made paper is brought to the Glass Library, Sylvia and the professor send the owner away. After all, the library collects books about magic, not containing it. But the murder of the bookbinder who bound them sees the books returned to the library, along with Gabe in his role as consultant for Scotland Yard. When his investigation uncovers a link to Sylvia's past, they're even more determined to find the murderer. But they're not the only ones searching for answers. Someone has gone to great lengths to find the truth behind the binding of the books. The hunt for the killer leads them to dark corners of London and unscrupulous players with much to gain by owning the collection. It also leads to the discovery of long-buried secrets, and staggering revelations that shed light on Sylvia's past." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 110401 The very secret society of irregular witches by Sangu Mandanna 
"As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

End of the world, or apocalyptic, futures have long been of interest to people around the world. May be the interest lies in the fear or unease of the unknown in “after” the apocalypse. Is it really the end, or will there be some survivors? For fiction writers, sometimes the apocalypse is just the beginning. 

In this last week of the Horror in October blog series, the focus is apocalyptic horror. Whether it's nuclear disaster, world war, climate or ecological disaster, pandemic decimation or alien invasion leading to the complete melt-down of civilization, the horror begins with the survivors learning how and, even if, they can survive. Read how these characters manage to get through the horrors of their apocalypse only to face the terrifying aftermath and dangers of their post-apocalyptic worlds in this selection of books available in the Kansas Talking Books collection.

Request one (or more) of these books to be sent to you on your next cartridge. Or, download whenever and wherever you are with BARD Mobile, great for those on the go and also at home. Get access to all of these books and more with BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, a service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books. Learn about BARD Mobile or other download options on the Kansas Talking Books website or by calling the office at 1-800-362-0699.

DB 108784 The black tide by K. C. Jones 
"It was just another day at the beach. And then the world ended. Mike and Beth didn't know each other existed before the night of the meteor shower. A melancholy film producer and a house sitter barely scraping by--chance made them neighbors, a bottle of champagne brought them together, and a shared need for human connection sparked something more. After a drunken and desperate one-night stand, the two strangers awake to discover a surprise astronomical event has left widespread destruction in its wake. But the cosmic lightshow was only part of something much bigger, and far more terrifying. When a set of lost car keys leaves them stranded on an empty stretch of Oregon coast, when their emergency calls go unanswered and inhuman screams echo from the dunes, when the rising tide reaches for their car and unspeakable horrors close in around them, these two self-destructive souls must band together to survive a nightmare of apocalyptic scale." -- Provided by publisher. -- Some descriptions of sex, strong language, violence. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

DB 113099 Sister, maiden, monster by Lucy A. Snyder 
"To survive they must evolve. A virus tears across the globe, transforming its victims in nightmarish ways. As the world collapses, dark forces pull a small group of women together. Erin, once quiet and closeted, acquires an appetite for a woman and her brain. Why does forbidden fruit taste so good? Savannah, a professional BDSM switch, discovers a new turn-on: committing brutal murders for her eldritch masters. Mareva, plagued with chronic tumors, is too horrified to acknowledge her divine role in the coming apocalypse, and as her growths multiply, so too does her desperation." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 96410 Last ones left alive by Sarah Davis-Goff 
Orpen's life on a tiny island off the coast of a post-apocalyptic Ireland revolves around surviving the ravenous skrake, zombies roaming the wilds and searching for prey. When her guardian, Maeve, is bitten, Orpen sets off on a journey to attempt to save her. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.

DB 83423 Black tide rising, books 1-2 by John Ringo 
First two books in the series, published in 2013 and 2014. In Under a Graveyard Sky, the Smith family fights for survival during a zombie plague. In To Sail a Darkling Sea, a fleet of ships known as Wolf Squadron scours the Atlantic for survivors. Violence and strong language. 2014.

DB 56081 The stand by Stephen King 
An experimental virus called superflu hits the world--rapidly wiping out the whole of civilization except for the few who are immune. Expansion of novel originally published in 1978. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1990.

DB 97725 Hell divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith 
Centuries after Earth has been poisoned during World War III, the remains of humanity inhabit massive airships in orbit. To keep the aging ships functional, individuals called Hell Divers skydive to the surface to scavenge for parts. On one such dive, a team discovers a threat to humanity's future. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2016.

DB 84824 The fireman by Joe Hill 
A pandemic known as Dragonscale has swept the planet, causing the afflicted to develop markings on their skin and then burst into flame. A nurse who contracts Dragonscale wants to avoid quarantine long enough to give birth to her child. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2016.

DB 111997 World War Z by Max Brooks 
"In this new classic of apocalyptic fiction that feels all too real, the Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. The documentary-style oral history records the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. Featuring five more hours of previously unrecorded content, this full-cast recording is read by F. Murray Abraham, Alan Alda, René Auberjonois, Becky Ann Baker, Dennis Boutsikaris, Bruce Boxleitner, Max Brooks, Nicki Clyne, Common, Denise Crosby, Frank Darabont, Dean Edwards, Mark Hamill, Nathan Fillion, Maz Jobrani, Frank Kamai, Michelle Kholos, John McElroy, Ade M'Cormack, Alfred Molina, Parminder Nagra, Ajay Naidu, Masi Oka, Steve Park, Kal Penn, Simon Pegg, Jürgen Prochnow, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Henry Rollins, Jeri Ryan, Jay O. Sanders, Martin Scorsese, Paul Sorvino, David Ogden Stiers, Brian Tee, John Turturro, Eamonn Walker, Ric Young, and Waleed Zuaiter." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 63649 The road by Cormac McCarthy 
A father and his young son journey south after the destruction of the civilized world. Their survival kit consists of a few blankets, a pistol, a cart of scavenged food, and their love for each other. Their values are tested by occasional encounters with other desperate survivors. Bestseller. 2006.

DB 71422 The passage by Justin Cronin 
Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte becomes humanity's last hope after the North American populace is decimated by a terrifying viral infection--the product of a secret military experiment housed in a remote compound in the Colorado mountains. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2010. 

DB 79311 Bird box by Josh Malerman 
As Malorie learns she is pregnant, the news is full of people committing sudden violent murders and suicides after seeing some unknown thing. Like others, Malorie blindfolds herself and stays inside, but finally must risk death to find others to help her. Violence and strong language. 2014.

When most people think of horror, they think of haunted houses, terrifying monsters, masked killers, or other supernatural occurrences. But, perhaps one of the most disturbing tropes in horror is the innocent face of a child hiding something dark and sinister. They are often the only ones people don't expect to be behind, or even capable of, horrific happenings. Experience the eerie tales of possessed, supernatural, or just truly malevolent in this selection of horror books with nightmare children.

Explore these stories demonstrating that sometimes the scariest monsters come in the guise of the innocent right on your mobile device, any where you want, any time you want with BARD Mobile. BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books, allows every patron to download books and magazines in audio and digital braille to a mobile device, PC computer, and/or braille ereader for direct reading, or to a flash drive to listen with the player. Visit our website or contact our office (1-800-362-0699 or KTB@ks.gov) for more information or if you have any questions.

DB 91802 Baby teeth by Zoje Stage 
Suzette is a stay-at-home mother desperate to bond with her mute daughter, Hanna. The seven-year-old is all smiles and love with her father, Alex, but seems to hate Suzette. It could be a phase, but Suzette begins to fear that Hanna is trying to get rid of her. Contains some violence, strong language and explict descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2018.

DB 15323 The bad seed by William March 
Bizarre story of a little girl whose lovely face and charming manners mask a chilling dark secret.

DB 27891 The fifth child by Doris May Lessing 
A man and a woman meet, appear perfectly matched to each other, fall in love, and are married. They buy the perfect home and begin to raise the perfect family, bearing two boys and two girls in rapid succession. But the birth of their strange fifth child, a son, soon begins to destroy all of their previous contentment.

DB 65808 We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver 
In a series of letters to her husband, Eva Khatchadourian examines their past in order to understand the reason their son Kevin chose to go on a killing spree a few days before he turned sixteen. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Orange Prize. 2003.

DB 104297 The book of accidents by Chuck Wendig 
Years after experiencing their own separate traumas, Nate and Maddie move to Nate's childhood home in rural Pennsylvania with their son, Oliver. There, Oliver meets a strange boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

DB 16457 Ariel by Lawrence Block 
Spooky tale of an appealing child who is possessed of a malevolent streak. After her adoptive mother bears a son of her own, the young girl is neglected. Then the boy dies, and the mother suspects that the mysterious Ariel is to blame. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.

DB 96861 Imaginary friend by Stephen Chbosky 
Kate Reese and her son Christopher are on the run from an abusive relationship. They land in Mill Grove, a tight-knit Pennsylvania community. It seems perfect until Christopher vanishes. He emerges from the woods six days later, unhurt but hearing a voice in his head. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2019.

DB 116912 The omen by David Seltzer 
"Jeremy Thorn and his wife, Katherine, have just welcomed the newest member of their family to the world: their beautiful son Damien. But as the boy grows, so does the terror surrounding him. Fatal accidents, suicides, and unexplained violence seem to follow the Thorns wherever they go--but why? And how can Damien have anything to do with the carnage and bloodshed? He is only a child. But Damien Thorn is like no child on Earth. He bears the mark of the beast. And his time is at hand. This audiobook edition is narrated by Holly Palance, who starred in David Seltzer's The Omen in 1976." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 84517 Little girls by Ronald Damien Malfi 
Laurie moves back to her childhood home after her father's suicide. Her husband and daughter love the house, but Laurie begins to hear things. And her daughter's new best friend looks just like her childhood playmate who died. Some violence and some strong language. 2015.

DB 59339 The other by Thomas Tryon 
1930s. In a small Connecticut town a series of bizarre events surround the once-well-to-do Perry family, whose male members have all died violently. The deaths seem mysteriously linked to twelve-year-old twins Niles and Holland. Some violence and some strong language. 1971.

Welcome to the unsettling world of domestic horror, where your comfy home transforms into a breeding ground for fear. These stories peel back the layers of “normal” life, revealing the sinister truths lurking just beneath the surface. From haunted houses to psychologically chilling family dynamics, domestic horror explores how the places, and the people with whom we should feel the safest can become our greatest nightmares. Join us as we delve into this brief selection of books that capture the essence of domestic dread, reflecting our deepest anxieties about the fragility of our perceived safe zones.

Uncover the dark secrets hiding behind closed doors in any of these books, all of which are available for scary fast download any time you want with BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books provide this free download service to all patrons. It can be used on your smartphone and/or tablet through the BARD Mobile app, letting you listen to books directly on the device. There is also a desktop application with built-in player for Windows PCs only, called BARD Express, or the website to download to a flash drive for use in the port in the player. Visit our website, call the office at 1-800-362-0699, or email KTB@ks.gov for more information on downloading books.

DB 21679 The haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson 
During his scientific investigation of the ghosts in an old abandoned house, Dr. Montague invites a young man and two women to participate in his experiments.

DB 85265 Behind closed doors by B. A. Paris 
Jack has looks and wealth, and his wife, Grace, has charm and elegance. It's difficult to get to know Grace better, because Jack and Grace are never apart. Grace never answers the phone and can never meet for coffee. And there are bars on one of the bedroom windows. Contains some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2016.

DB 119233 My darling girl by Jennifer McMahon 
"Alison has never been a fan of Christmas. But with it right around the corner and her husband busily decorating their cozy Vermont home, she has no choice but to face it. Then she gets the call. Mavis, Alison's estranged mother, has been diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. She wants to spend her remaining days with her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. But Alison grew up with her mother's alcoholism and violent abuse and is reluctant to unearth these traumatic memories. Still, she eventually agrees to take in Mavis, hoping that she and her mother could finally heal and have the relationship she's always dreamed of. But when mysterious and otherworldly things start happening upon Mavis's arrival, Alison begins to suspect her mother is not quite who she seems. And as the holiday festivities turn into a nightmare, she must confront just how far she is willing to go to protect her family." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 93085 Someone like me by M. R. Carey 
Gentle Liz Kendall is devoted only to her kids. Then a dark and malicious side of Liz begins to take control--a version of her that will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. To save herself and her family, Liz must stop this alter ego. Contains some violence and some strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2018.

DB 111782 Just like home by Sarah Gailey 
""Come home." Vera's mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories - she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family. Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren't alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera's childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn't the one leaving notes around the house in her father's handwriting... but who else could it possibly be? There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 88330 The changeling by Victor D. LaValle 
Apollo Kagwa believes he and his wife Emma are suffering the normal stresses of new parents, until Emma's erratic behavior turns horrifyingly violent. After committing a terrible act, Emma disappears, and his search for her sends Apollo on a journey to places he never imagined. Contains some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

DB 116090 The only one left by Riley Sager 
At seventeen, Lenora Hope hung her sister with a rope. Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope's End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred. Stabbed her father with a knife. Took her mother's happy life. It's now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope's End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer-I want to tell you everything. "It wasn't me," Lenora said. But she's the only one not dead. As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there's more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor's departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth-and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

DB 116597 The September house by Carissa Orlando 
"A thrilling psychological horror debut about a woman who is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes haunted, no matter the cost... You can survive anything. That's what Margaret tells herself when the walls of her house start to drip blood every September. She's learned how to live with it...and the other terrifying apparitions that have made the sprawling Victorian house she and her husband bought four years ago turn from a dream home into a living nightmare. But she can outlast all of it. Hal felt differently, though. Her husband couldn't take the hauntings anymore, and he left. But now he's not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine arrives, intent on looking for her missing father, convinced something grim has happened to him. With every desperate attempt Katherine makes at finding Hal, the hauntings at the September House grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep." -- Provided by publisher. -- Strong language, violence. Commercial audiobook.

DB 105260 The last house of Needless Street by Catriona Ward 
In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods, an unspeakable secret binds a strange family together. But when a new neighbor moves in next door, something buried among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

DB 114719 A house with good bones by T. Kingfisher 
"In this ordinary North Carolina suburb, family secrets are always in bloom. Samantha Montgomery pulls into the driveway of her family home to find a massive black vulture perched on the mailbox, staring at the house. Inside, everything has changed. Gone is the eclectic warmth Sam expects; instead the walls are a sterile white. Now, it's very important to say grace before dinner, and her mother won't hear a word against Sam's long-dead and little-missed grandmother, who was the first to put down roots in this small southern town. The longer Sam stays, the stranger things get. And every day, more vultures circle overhead." -- Strong language, some violence. Provided by publisher.

DB 110609 Jackal by Erin E. Adams 
"It's watching. Liz Rocher is coming home reluctantly. As a Black woman, Liz doesn't exactly have fond memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white town. But her best friend is getting married, so she braces herself for a weekend of awkward, passive-aggressive reunions. Liz has grown, though; she can handle whatever awaits her. But on the day of the wedding, somewhere between dancing and dessert, the couple's daughter, Caroline, disappears-and the only thing left behind is a piece of white fabric covered in blood. It's taking. As a frantic search begins, with the police combing the trees for Caroline, Liz is the only one who notices a pattern: A summer night. A missing girl. A party in the woods. She's seen this before. Keisha Woodson, the only other Black girl in Liz's high school, walked into the woods with a mysterious man and was later found with her chest cavity ripped open and her heart removed. Liz shudders at the thought that it could have been her, and now, with Caroline missing, it can't be a coincidence. As Liz starts to dig through the town's history, she uncovers a horrifying secret about the place she once called home. Children have been going missing in these woods for years. All of them Black. All of them girls. It's your turn. With the evil in the forest creeping closer, Liz knows what she must do: find Caroline, or be entirely consumed by the darkness." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 108427 Hidden pictures by Jason Rekulak 
"Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy. Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman's lifeless body. Then, Teddy's artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force. Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it's too late." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

DB 12162 Blood secrets by Craig Jones 
A romantic marriage between a beautiful woman and a secretive young man becomes a nightmare as the wife gradually uncovers terrifying secrets about her husband and his family. The wife watches as her daughter becomes drawn into the unspeakable horror that surrounds her husband's bizarre family life. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.

DB 38470 Lost boys by Orson Scott Card 
Step and DeAnne Fletcher move to a new town and slowly adjust to their new community. Preoccupied with their own problems, Step and DeAnne do not realize that their eight-year-old son, Stevie, has become extremely introverted and is spending all his time with his imaginary friends. The terror begins when a connection is made between Stevie's friends and a rash of disappearances of other boys in the town. Strong language.

Horror isn't limited to the realm of fiction. There have been plenty of people in history who have terrorized communities or nations with their crimes, whether through the brutality of their actions, the number of crimes committed, the lack of quick resolution, or the sheer audacity. True crime can be just as frightening as fictional horror.

Kansas has not been immune to crime. Criminals exist in communities of all sizes from small towns to large cities. Dodge City was known for its lawlessness and the famous lawmen who were brought in to bring order: Charlie Bassett, Bat Masterson, and Wyatt Earp. Not only were these and other lawmen well-known across the country and throughout history, but many infamous criminals committed their crimes in Kansas: the Dalton Gang; the Benders; the BTK Strangler; and the Clutter family killers, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, about which Truman Capote wrote In Cold Blood, DB 22726.

Read about these and other real killers and criminals of Kansas this October with this selection of Kansas true crime books from the Kansas Talking Books (KTB) collection. Your access to this criminal history of Kansas is, as always, available for immediate direct download with BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download. This download service is provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and KTB. Use BARD Mobile to download and listen to these books directly on your smartphone or tablet, or use the new BARD Express player to listen on a Windows computer. To learn more, visit our website, or contact the KTB office office at KTB@ks.gov or 1-800-362-0699.

DB 22726 In cold blood: a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences by Truman Capote 
The author coined the term "nonfiction novel" for this account of the murder of a Kansas family. He reconstructs the crime and the backgrounds and personalities of all the principals, drawing his information from observation, interviews, and official records.

DB 56817 Suddenly gone: the Kansas murders of serial killer Richard Grissom by Dan Mitrione 
Former FBI agent details the 1989 Kansas crime spree of serial killer Richard Grissom Jr., who kidnapped and tortured young women. Grissom's psychological troubles--and a grisly murder he committed as a youth--were revealed in his juvenile record, and such deviant behavior continued into his adulthood. Violence and strong language. 1995.

DB 60180 Nightmare in Wichita: the hunt for the BTK Strangler by Robert Beattie 
Lawyer chronicles the more-than-three-decade search for the self-named serial killer BTK (bind, torture, kill), who terrorized Wichita, Kansas, residents. Begins with the 1974 discovery of the first-known victims, summarizes the murderer's media correspondence, and follows the case through the 2005 arrest of Dennis Rader. Violence. Bestseller. 2005.

DB 107236 Hell's half-acre: the untold story of the Benders, a serial killer family on the American frontier by Susan Jonusas 
Study of the Bender family, whose homestead in Labette County, Kansas, was the site of numerous murders and a mass grave. Discusses the social environment of the early 1870s, the Bender family and their victims, and the investigation and search for the family after neighbors discovered the crime. Some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

DBC06579 Shadow on the hill: the true story of a 1925 Kansas murder by Diana Staresinic-Deane 
On Decoration Day in 1925, John Knoblock returned to his Kansas farm to find his wife slaughtered on the kitchen floor. Within hours, dozens of lawmen, family members, well-meaning neighbors and gawkers paraded through the Knoblock farmstead, contaminating and destroying what little evidence was left behind. A small team of inexperienced lawmen, including a newly elected sheriff who had never run a murder investigation, attempted to reconstruct and solve the most gruesome murder in the history of Coffey County, Kansas. Adult. Some violence.

DBC14923 Notorious Kansas bank heists: gunslingers to gangsters by Rod Beemer 
Bank robbers wreaked havoc in the Sunflower State. After robbing the Chautauqua State Bank in 1911, outlaw Elmer McCurdy was killed by lawmen but wasn't buried for sixty-six years. His afterlife can be described only as bizarre. Belle Starr's nephew Henry Starr claimed to have robbed twenty-one banks. The Dalton gang failed in their attempt to rob two banks simultaneously, but others accomplished this in Waterville in 1911. Nearly four thousand known vigilantes patrolled the Sunflower State during the 1920s and 1930s to combat the criminal menace. One group even had an airplane with a .50-caliber machine gun. Join author Rod Beemer for a wild ride into Kansas's tumultuous bank heist history. Some strong language and some violence.

DBC17283 Beyond Cold Blood: the KBI from Ma Barker to BTK by Larry Welch 
Ma Barker and Pretty Boy Floyd once shot their way across the state, and Bonnie and Clyde were known to travel within its borders. Between 1933 and 1938, thirty bank robberies occurred in Kansas, while livestock thefts also grew at an alarming rate. Little wonder, then, that pressure was brought to bear on the state legislature to create a Kansas counterpart to the Texas Rangers or FBI. Larry Welch, tenth director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, now provides readers with the first history of that agency. His account includes, among other things, detailed case studies of the KBI's participation in the high-profile arrests of serial killers Francis Donald Nemechek of western Kansas and Dennis Rader, the infamous BTK of Wichita. His taut chapters also highlight the relentless investigators, dedicated forensic scientists, crime analysts, and everyone else who has labored on behalf of the KBI's pursuit of justice. Adult. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Some strong language. Violence.

DB 108870 White hot hate: a true story of domestic terrorism in America's heartland by Dick Lehr 
"In the spring of 2016, as immigration debates rocked the United States, three men in a militia group known as the Crusaders grew aggravated over one Kansas town's growing Somali community. They decided that complaining about their new neighbors and threatening them directly wasn't enough. The men plotted to bomb a mosque, aiming to kill hundreds and inspire other attacks against Muslims in America. But they would wait until after the presidential election, so that their actions wouldn't hurt Donald Trump's chances of winning. An FBI informant befriended the three men, acting as law enforcement's eyes and ears for eight months. His secretly taped conversations with the militia were pivotal in obstructing their plans and were a lynchpin in the resulting trial and convictions for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. White Hot Hate will tell the riveting true story of an averted case of domestic terrorism in one of the most remote towns in the US, not far from the infamous town where Capote's In Cold Blood was set. In the gripping details of this foiled scheme, we see in intimate focus the chilling, immediate threat of domestic terrorism--and racist anxiety in America writ large." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Strong language, some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

DB 45728 Bitter harvest: a woman's fury, a mother's sacrifice by Ann Rule 
In 1995 the house of Kansas City physician Debora Green burned, causing the deaths of two of her three children. Signs of arson led to the arrest of Dr. Green, who was also suspected of trying to poison her estranged husband. Some strong language. Bestseller.

DB 58783 Anyone you want me to be: a true story of sex and death on the Internet by John E. Douglas 
Former FBI profiler Douglas traces the case of John Robinson, one of the first known serial killers to find his victims by using the Internet. Explores the Kansas con man's world, his decades-long criminal record, and his ability to lure women into sadomasochistic relationships. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2003.

DB 67282 Charlatan: American's most dangerous huckster, the man who pursued him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock 
Biography of showman John R. Brinkley (1885-1942), who hoodwinked early-twentieth-century audiences with his false cures at medicine shows and on the radio. Relates that Brinkley scammed thousands of people by claiming to cure impotence with goat-testicle transplants until Morris Fishbein, editor of JAMA, discredited Brinkley as a quack. 2008.

It's that spooky season and Kansas Talking Books' “Horror in October” blog series has come crawling back to take over the blog for the month once again. Starting off this series is a gathering of collections of horror short stories. These stories cover all kinds of horror, from terrifying creatures that haunt your nightmares to realistic tales that make you double check your locks during the day to science experiments gone wrong and more. New authors mingle with classic masters, making for treasures of nostalgia and fresh takes. If you've ever wondered where to get started reading horror, let one of these books take you through the many realms of terror.

Don't be scared by how creepy fast you can download these books and start reading them by using BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download. It's a online service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books making almost all the books in the collection available to all patrons at the same time. No waiting on books to come in the mail. Visit the Kansas Talking Books website for more information.

DB 118309 Best new horror, volume 30 edited by Simon Kurt Unsworth

“In this latest edition of the world's longest-running annual showcase of horror and dark fantasy you will find cutting edge stories by such authors as Ramsey Campbell, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Alison Littlewood, Graham Masterson, Michael Marshall Smith, Damien Angelica Walters, Reggie Oliver, and Thana Niveau, amongst many others. You'll also find the usual Introduction: Horror in 2018 and a Necrology of those who have left us.” –- Provided by publisher. –- Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex.

DB 84404 The best horror of the year, volume eight edited by Ellen Datlow

In addition to the editor's overview of the genre of horror for 2015, this collection contains twenty short stories she has chosen as the best of that year. Authors include Neil Gaiman, John Langan, Kelley Armstrong, Laird Barron, and Stephen Graham Jones. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2016.

DB 119904 Halloween carnival: volume one edited by Brian James Freeman

“Robert McCammon, Kevin Lucia, John Little, Lisa Morton, and Mark Allan Gunnells put the horror back in Halloween with a quintet of devilishly delightful tales, curated by acclaimed author and editor Brian James Freeman. STRANGE CANDY by Robert McCammon Chocolate bars and sour suckers are trick-or-treat staples, but beware the odd sweet at the bottom of your bag. You never know who it's from--or what it might do to you. THE RAGE OF ACHILLES by Kevin Lucia Father Ward should have heeded the warning about hearing confession on All Hallow's Eve. Because a man is about to tell him a secret more haunting than any he has heard before. DEMON AIR by John Little Fear of flying is not uncommon. But on this transpacific airline, the real danger isn't the flight itself. It's whoever--or whatever--is up in the air with you. LA HACIENDA DE LOS MUERTOS by Lisa Morton Trick McGrew, former cowboy star of the silver screen, has never believed in tall tales. But down in Mexico, the land of La Llorona, he's about to find out just how real urban legends can be. #MAKEHALLOWEENSCARYAGAIN by Mark Allan Gunnells Some people will go to any lengths to rack up retweets, likes, and follows on social media, no matter who they end up hurting … or even killing.” -- OCLC. -- Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex.

DB 71350 American fantastic tales: terror and the uncanny from Poe to the pulps edited by Peter Straub

Forty-four eerie tales from the early days of American literature to the 1940s. Includes works by Robert Bloch, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Robert E. Howard, Washington Irving, Henry James, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and others. Some violence. 2009.

DB 71371 American fantastic tales: terror and the uncanny from the 1940s to now edited by Peter Straub

Forty-two tales of horror and the supernatural. In Richard Matheson's “Prey” a woman buys a Zuni fetish doll as a present, but trapped inside it is the evil spirit of a hunter. Includes works by Shirley Jackson, Joe Hill, and others. Some violence and some strong language. 2009.

DB 63044 Gathering the bones: original stories from the world's masters of horror edited by Ramsey Campbell

Thirty-four tales of terror and dark fantasy from Great Britain, Australia, and the United States. The compilation is described as encompassing “the traditional and the avant-garde, the quiet and the vividly shocking.” Includes Ray Bradbury and others. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2003.

DB 74786 The weird: a compendium of strange and dark tales edited by Ann VanderMeer

Anthology of 110 tales by H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and others. In Jackson's The Summer People a couple grow increasingly isolated after deciding to stay in their New England vacation cottage past Labor Day. Some violence and some strong language. 2011.

DB 76053 The mammoth book of body horror edited by Paul Kane

Twenty-five short stories focusing on the transformation or mutation of the body into something unimaginable. Covers genres from traditional horror to disturbing science fiction and includes works by Clive Barker, John W. Campbell, Stephen King, Richard Matheson, and others. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2012.

DB 121659 You like it darker: stories by Stephen King

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life--both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again. “Two talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream," a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny's most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance--with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful. King's ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 121016 Howls from the Dark Ages edited by P.L. McMillan

“Uncover the secret annals of untold history in these eighteen medieval manuscripts. Each tortured scribe will bring you face to face with ancient horrors lurking in cursed castles, wild woodlands, haunted hamlets, and mysterious monasteries.” -- Amazon.com. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 119869 Classic monsters unleashed edited by James Aquilone

“Stories from famous monsters in a new horror anthology featuring Joe R. Lansdale, F. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Maberry, Ramsey Campbell, and many others. Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Moreau, the Headless Horseman, the Invisible Man, the Phantom of the Opera, the Wicked Witch of the West--they're all here, in this collection of horror short stories that reimagine, subvert, and pay homage to our favorite monsters and creatures. Written by the biggest names in the genre, including Joe R. Lansdale, R. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Maberry, Ramsey Campbell, Lisa Morton, Owl Goingback, Richard Christian Matheson, Seanan McGuire, Maurice Broaddus, Dacre Stoker, Linda D. Addison, Alessandro Manzetti, Tim Waggoner, John Palisano, Mercedes M. Yardley, Lucy A. Snyder, Gary A. Braunbeck, Rena Mason, and Monique Snyman.” --OCLC. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 117262 Never whistle at night: an Indigenous dark fiction anthology edited by Shane Hawk

“A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection of horror, fantasy, science fiction, and gritty crime by both new and established Indigenous authors that dares to ask the question: ”Are you ready to be un-settled?" Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. this belief ranges far and wide and takes many forms; for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai'po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls a Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl and snatch the foolish whistlers in the dark. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear-and even follow you home. In twenty-five wholly original and shiver-inducing tales, bestselling and award-winning authors including Tommy Orange, Rebecca Roanhorse, Cherie Dimaline, Waubgeshig Rice, and Mona Susan Power introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creature, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples' survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all things an ill-advised whistle might summon." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 116396 Out there screaming: an anthology of new Black horror edited by Jordan Peele

“A cop begins seeing huge, blinking eyes where the headlights of cars should be that tell him who to pull over. Two freedom riders take a bus ride that leaves them stranded on a lonely road in Alabama where several unsettling something await them. A young girl dives into the depths of the Earth in search of the demon that killed her parents. These are just a few of the worlds of Out There Screaming, Jordan Peele's anthology of all-new horror stories by Black writers. Featuring an introduction by Peele and an all-star roster of beloved writers and new voices, Out There Screaming is a master class in horror, and-like his spine-chilling films-its stories prey on everything we think we know about our world…and redefine what it means to be afraid. Featuring stories by: Erin E. Adams, Violet Allen, Lesley Nneka, Arimah, Maurice Broaddus, Chesya Burke, P. Dje`lí  Clark, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Tananarive Due, Nalo Hopkinson, N. K. Jemisin, Justin C. Key, L. D. Lewis, Nnedi Okorafor, Tochi Onyebuchi, Rebecca Roanhorse, Nicole D. Sconiers, Rion Amilcar Scott, Terence Taylor, and Cadwell Turnbull.” -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 101821 Tiny nightmares: very short tales of horror edited by Lincoln Michel

This collection features forty-two short stories of 1,500 words or less by a mix of literary and horror writers, including Brian Evenson, Samantha Hunt, Stephen Graham Jones, Hilary Leichter, Kevin Brockmeier, and more. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2020.

DB 110739 Isolation: the horror anthology edited by Nina Allan

“Lost in the wilderness, or alone in the dark, isolation remains one of our deepest held fears. This horror anthology from Shirley Jackson and British Fantasy Award finalist Dan Coxon calls on leading horror writers to confront the dark moments, the challenges that we must face alone: survivors in a world gone silent; the outcast shunned by society; the quiet voice trapped in the crowd; the lonely and forgotten, screaming into the abyss.” -- Provided by publisher. -- Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex.